ESPN’s Marks doesn’t see large offer sheet coming for Suns’ Oubre

With how much movement occurred in the first 24 hours of free agency, there aren’t many teams left that have a large amount of cap space.

The Los Angeles Clippers and Los Angeles Lakers as of Monday afternoon have over $29 million each left in cap space as they await the decision of unrestricted free agent Kawhi Leonard.

There’s also the Dallas Mavericks with over $22 million in room, but after that, teams have spent most of the money.

That’s good news for the Phoenix Suns, who currently have restricted free agent Kelly Oubre Jr. to consider paying.

While the fallout of the Leonard sweepstakes could leave a team like the Clippers or Lakers in need of Oubre’s services, ESPN’s Bobby Marks doesn’t see it that way.

Marks, in fact, doesn’t see much of a market left for Oubre at all.

“There’s really only three (teams) that have significant money,” he told 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station’s Burns & Gambo Monday.

“The Clippers — if they miss out on Kawhi I don’t see them going and putting a big offer sheet (on Oubre). I don’t think the Lakers can afford to put a big offer sheet (on Oubre) because if they miss on Kawhi, there’s a lot of holes there. I don’t think you can put a $15-16 million per year on one player. I think you’re gonna need to split up that money.”

Oubre posted career-high numbers in points (16.9), rebounds (4.9) and assists (1.7) per game for Phoenix after being acquired from Washington in late December, along with his best efficiency yet in shooting from the field at 45.3%.

The wing’s price has thought to have been anywhere in the range of $11-16 million range while the threat of a large offer loomed, potentially forcing the Suns to make a decision. If Oubre agreed to an offer sheet with another team, Phoenix would have 48 hours to decide if they would match on his contract.

Marks doesn’t think that will happen.

“I don’t see it,” he said of a potential offer sheet in the $18-20 million area. “I don’t see Dallas coming in and doing that. That’s not the Clippers’ philosophy.”

Because of Oubre’s Bird rights, the Suns can go over the cap to retain the 23-year-old wing. Phoenix has already agreed to terms with two free agents in point guard Ricky Rubio and power forward Frank Kaminsky.

With the amount of money to spend around the league lacking, the Suns now firmly control the situation.

“That’s the power of restricted free agency,” Marks said. “The money just dries up there.”

The Suns met with Oubre on Sunday night, per 98.7 FM’s Gambadoro. They did not come away with a deal done and Marks explained how that situation could play out.

“You come in with a number, if your number is let’s say [four years for $44 million] and he thinks he can get more, then go out and get an offer sheet and see what we can do,” he said. “The team is at risk if the sheet comes but as I said before the market has really, really dried up here. There’s a chance that if he cannot get one then he comes back and you try to find something in the middle.”

Follow @KellanOlson